Intensive care MDs: More white coats, fewer piercings preferred

It's not just your mom who's suspicious of body art: Families of patients in intensive care units said that physicians who don't display piercings or tattoos make a better first impression, according to survey results released Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. In intensive care units, the researchers wrote (subscription required), the stakes are high but patients are unlikely to have a preexisting relationship with their doctors. "Trust needs to be established over a short time frame," they noted, adding that relatives of seriously ill patients often have to be active in medical decision making.